Shedge’s selection follows a remarkable run of form for India A and in the IPL for PBKS.
Mumbai and Punjab Kings (PBKS) all-rounder Suryansh Shedge on Tuesday (June 23) earned his maiden national call-up to the Indian T20I squad for the upcoming series against Ireland and England. The 23-year-old was named as a replacement for the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was ruled out due to a left quadriceps injury.
Shedge’s selection follows a remarkable run of form, highlighting his recent successes with India A in Sri Lanka and his impactful performances for the PBKS in IPL 2026.
Speaking to TOI, Shedge shared his first reaction on India selection and recounted the immense sacrifices made by his parents. He revealed that his mother quit her bank job specifically to accompany him to cricket practices and matches during his formative years.
“Actually, I still can't sink it in, and I think I won't be able to sink it in until I get on the flight! I still can't believe it! This has been my dream since childhood. And obviously, it's a very special feeling. And I feel very proud and happy for my parents (Prashant and Priyadarshini), because of the sacrifices they have made for me. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have been able to be a cricketer,” Shedge said.
“My mom was working in a bank, but she quit her job because she had to accompany me to practice and matches,” he added.
The young all-rounder also expressed gratitude towards his coaches who have played major roles in his cricketing journey.
“The way Manish Bangera, Jatin Paranjape, and Monty Desai have helped me through my journey is very heartwarming because they truly believed in me. If the environment is such that everyone knows my capabilities, and if they keep telling me constantly (about my abilities), self-belief comes automatically. So, that helped me a lot,” he stated.
Shedge highlighted the comfort of playing under Shreyas Iyer, India's new T20I captain, under whom he has made four separate debut appearances.
“That’s totally true. In the last two years, I've made four debuts under him — in the SMAT, Vijay Hazare Trophy, India A and the IPL. He’s somebody who gives his 100% in terms of attitude and commitment to the team, and that mentality creeps into the whole side,” he said.
When asked if he was expecting to receive the national call-up after doing well for India A, Shedge replied: “No. For the last two-three years, my mindset has been that I shouldn't have any expectations from my cricket, because I feel that at this stage, it's important to remind yourself why you started playing cricket. When I was 8-10 years old and I used to step on the field, I just enjoyed playing the sport. So, somewhere along the way, we forget that. However, for the last two-three years, I have been practising gratitude and reminding myself why I started playing cricket. So I don't have any expectations.”
Suryansh Shedge's ability to chip in as a medium pacer has also elevated his status. “I think that my bowling has improved a lot in the last two years, and that's something I've been working on diligently, because I know how handy it can be for a team. And if I want to contribute, I'll have to improve day by day,” he remarked.
Shedge had an impressive stint with the PBKS in the IPL 2026, scoring 158 runs in seven matches at an average of 39.50.
Reflecting on his performance, the all-rounder said: “I faced international bowlers in the IPL, so that was also a big confidence booster. And after sitting out for half a season, I felt very proud to be playing in the XI.”
Shedge tries to emulate Ben Stokes as an all-rounder because of his competitive spirit, endurance, and willingness to step up whenever his team needs him the most.
“I idolise Ben Stokes. If you see, he puts in a spell of 12 overs in the Ashes. And he also has to do it for his team. He has to contribute. So I look up to him.”
(With TOI Inputs)